Good weekend, woodworkers. Most folks that know me know that I am primarily a small box guy. Although I have a early incarnation of the Incra wooden hinge jig, and have several sets in my pile of box adornments I have never used them, caught by how best to utilize them (exterior mount, mortised in, etc.). How do you use them? Let’s see your project cards and discuss, if you’ve a moment. Thanks!

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

49 replies so far

While I greatly admire the skill and ingenuity behind many of the wooden hinges I’ve seen here, I have to say that, aesthetically, I’m just not a fan. They are too big and clunky-looking for small boxes, in my opinion, but that’s just a matter of personal taste.

Douglas, I have the Incra hinge jig, but find it just about as fast to use regular box joints (although the Incra Jig hinges are a little better looking). I have only made them as surface mounted hinges, but I think that I will drift toward mortising them in the future.

Charlie, I agree with you, I also do not care for the “bulk” that they add to a small box – BUT having said that I absolutely love the challenge they add to a project. I am finishing a box right now that will utilize some Cocobolo hinges. These will be surface mounted.

Charlie, thanks for weighing in. I can see some boxes benefiting from rusticity, bigger live edge campaign style boxes etc. I think of some of YorkshireStewart’s boxes as a stylistic example. and then there are his insane hinges actually cut into the back and lid, which would only make me dizzy to contemplate and are a wholly different animal.

Some of my ready sets are quite small, and if let into the carcase and lid would only have a bit of knuckle showing, but I am not sure of the best way, and I am pretty sold on there being a stop involved, as I’m not much for chain tethers etc. inside the box unless there’s a tray lift (tacklebox type deal) involved.

Howdy, Bill. The boxmaker’s squad from The Sportsman’s Paradise has certainly come through this morning. Hope all is well, glad to see you’re in the middle of a project.Do those surface mounts stop the lid? I apologize for just not having a very functional mechanical aptitude unless I am manipulating something physical (not great at mental gyrations), and although I could just mock-up some sacrificial deal, or read the directions, I thought I would just bug y’all. ;^J

If Lee, Gary and Miles come aboard the South will be solidly represented…

So pleased to see you here Stewart, you’re a master at these, among you’re other considerable gifts. The top example is particularly handsome. Do they stop, or are they mechanically “tight” enough to stay put at 95° or so?

I have made a lot of wooden hinges, there are a couple of my boxes on my project page with them. I really don’t plan ahead on the design,i just wait until the box has taken shape and then i start making the hinges.

They are integral with the box so that they don’t add to the appearance of weight. They stay open at just over 90 degrees and if you like the lid can be removable. I’ve used them on a number of projects and they work well. I’m also a fan of Stewart’s beautiful hinges and the boxes they grace.

Douglas, I am a big fan of wooden hinges. The Shipwright and Patron hinges are my favorites. Both stop just past 90 to hold the lid. Check out my projects for several different types of wooden hinges. (more on the way!). The Patron hinges are the simplest and quickest to make and are very unobtrusive in my opinion. Stewart, You and Paul are my “hinge heros”.